2 Corinthians Week 16

Day 1 

READ 

2 Corinthians 10:12 

12 Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant! 

Paul and those who ministered with him had a true evaluation of themselves. False teachers were comparing themselves with others; Paul was comparing himself and his companions with the holy standards of God. Paul thought it lacked knowledge to compare oneself with others. One may be worse than some, but also better than some. God does not evaluate that way.  

REFLECT 

As you read the Bible, do you see there are standards there for you to measure how you are doing? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a Christian friend about this important topic. Search the Bible for some ideals to be striven after. Consider Proverbs 27:2 and Colossians 3:5-15 for some ways to honor Jesus. 

Day 2 

READ 

2 Corinthians 10:13-14 

13 We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you. 14 We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ. 

Paul did not want to boast about what others had done; he wanted to accurately assess what he and his team had done. False teachers—in that day Judaizers—liked to come into someone else’s territory and gain followers. Today, false teachers do the same. They like to come into established works and try to draw away followers.  

REFLECT 

Have you witnessed counterfeit religious groups seeking to take advantage of groups teaching the Bible? 

RESPOND 

It is not necessary that you become an expert in counterfeit groups, but you need to know the Bible well enough you can recognize false teaching. The only way to recognize a counterfeit is by knowing the genuine. Make 2 Timothy 2:15 your guide and goal.   

Day 3 

READ 

2 Corinthians 10:15-17 

15 Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended. 16 Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory. 17 As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 

Paul wanted to lay a spiritual foundation rather than build on someone else’s. In that way he would not be boasting about what someone else had done. This would be a reference to the Judaizers in his day who wanted to come where he had laid a foundation and take away some of his people. He challenged others with a reference to Jeremiah 9:24 to boast only in the Lord.  

REFLECT 

How is your local fellowship doing? Is it seeking to get believers from other fellowships or winning the lost and bringing them into your group? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a fellow believer about this serious problem. In some areas there seems to be a “fruit basket upset” where believers change churches but the growth is not from winning and discipling the lost.  

Day 4 

READ 

2 Corinthians 10:18 

18 When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them. 

Paul continued to be concerned about those bragging about their accomplishments. It doesn’t mean much when an individual boasts about what she or he has done. What counts is when the Lord praises a person for what has been done. Someday every believer will stand before the Lord to give account, but in the meantime the Lord blesses those who honor Him.  

REFLECT 

What is your greatest concern? Do you want praise from others or from the Lord? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the rewards received at the judgment seat of Christ. Read 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; and 2 Corinthians 5:10 in this regard.  

Day 5 

READ 

2 Corinthians 11:1-2 

1 I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. 

Because the Corinthian believers seemed impressed with who a person is and what he has done, Paul asked them to bear with him as he told about himself. He considered it “foolishness” but thought they needed to hear it. His main desire was to present the believers to Jesus as a pure bride. 

REFLECT 

What is your main desire as you minister to others? Do you want them to remember you or to focus their attention on Jesus? 

RESPOND 

Consider the Holy Spirit in regard to what you should do. He did not want attention focused on Himself but on Jesus. See John 16:12-15 for what Jesus said before He left the earth and promised to send the Holy Spirit. See in that passage that the Holy Spirit would bring glory to Jesus. This is what believers should do today.